Big Boi Aftermath

In a darker room, crowded with people, two hospital beds were occupied by two men whose clothing was in scraps. They had an older style IV pole next to each bed with the IVs inserted into their arms to keep them hydrated as they laid there. One of the men was awake, sitting up in the bed, softly talking to a woman next to him with a jovial mustachioed smile. Swain was recounting his and Sylas's heroic journey from the beginning for the group of students and one of their professors and exaggerating their deeds in the process.

In the bed next to him, Sylas was stirred from his unconsciousness by the hushed whispers and gasps coming from his side. As he lay there in the warmth of the bed with a comfortable and familiar weight on his chest, he suddenly remembered where he was before these comfortable feelings enveloped him. He could see the large zombie towering over him as he lay on the ground unable to move.

Piercing blue eyes shot open as Sylas screamed at his body to sit up and fight only to feel an immense amount of pain shoot through his body and hear a surprised gasp coming from below his head. Taking in the site around him, Sylas saw a dim room which only had a small stream of light peeking in through a small glass window in the heavy wooden door. There were a total of seven people in the room including himself. Two hospital beds took up a majority of the room while most of the rest was used by medical equipment that was pushed along one of the walls.

His gaze landed on the woman in front of him, Samantha. She had been laying in the hospital bed with him, her head on his chest listening to his heart beat as he slept. Sylas saw her reddened eyes, realizing she had been crying over his condition and pulled her into a hug. She wept again in relief as he was awake which meant the worst didn't happen.

Sylas continued taking stock of the room as Sam vented her emotions. He saw Swain looking over, slightly teary himself, so he gave him a nod and a soft smile which Swain responded to by continuing his rendition of the epic saga that was the thirty minute journey since the start of the Integration in a louder voice to draw everyone's attention to himself. Sylas saw that Swain's intentions were met and his attention went back to Sam. He started running his fingers through her hair as stroked her head and whispered reassurances in her ear.

After a few minutes, Samantha had finished venting her emotions and was able to look at Sylas. "I thought I lost you."

Sylas felt a lump form in his throat as he heard her words. Thinking back to the fight he was sure he would've died to the large zombie if she hadn't stepped in. They didn't have a real plan or real strength to handle a pack that size and its leader. 

"I know, I'm sorry. I couldn't just do nothing once I saw you were their target. I had to do something, anything. As long as you are safe I will take any beating that comes my way."

His words didn't elicit the response he thought they would as Sam started to cry again as she beat his chest. "Stupid! Idiot! How could I be okay with you dying for me!"

Sylas admitted defeat, promising to be careful even in the face of her imminent death. Of course he only half meant his words. They both knew he would do anything to help her when the time came. Perhaps realizing this or remembering that he was injured, Sam stopped weakly hitting his chest and gradually stopped crying. When asked about what happened after he lost consciousness, she told him about her makeshift spear, her lucky shot that killed the large zombie, and their actions after.

They pulled the hospital beds out of the room, bringing them to the side of Swain and Sylas, before lifting them onto the beds and pushing them down the hall to a new room. They decided they wanted a room with a more solid door this time and having only a small window would reduce the chances of anyone or anything walking by and noticing them. They got into the room they were currently in and put their schooling to use by taking care of the injured. They set up the IV, cleaned, dressed, and bandaged the wounds, and cleaned any dried blood and other gunk off the duo.

While looking over his body, Sylas gave a couple of head pats to Sam while saying "Atta Girl" which caused Sam to blush and look down. She continued by telling him the system had rewarded her after she finished taking care of him saying she had leaned into her strengths and knowledge. Sam shared her skill screen with Sylas to show her reward, a passive skill.

[Student of a healer]

[Grade: Common]

[Passive: +2 Vitality of any patient the skill holder gives medical aid. This will increase recovery speed. This effect does not work if the patient is in or enters combat.]

After reading the description, Sylas thought about how his body felt as he sat in the hospital bed. He was sore, especially at the contact points where the zombies hit him during his fights, but he couldn't feel any intense pain. Thinking of this he looked at the system clock at the corner of his vision. Close to two hours had passed since they had entered the medical building to start the fight with the pack of zombies. He thought that the skill may not be useful during combat but if they were able to rest like this then it would bring them back to fighting and surviving shape much faster than not having it.

While looking at the clock he noticed that next to it was an image of an envelope with a blinking exclamation mark on it. Focusing his intent on the symbol, a blue window appeared in his vision.

[Muted notification in combat. Notifications will be held in this log during combat and can be accessed any time.]

He decided to go through them now to see the total rewards from the fights he had been in since joining up with Swain.

[You have killed level 1 [Zombie].] x4

[You have killed level 2 [Zombie].] x2

[You have assisted with the hunting of level 5 [Baron Zombie].]

[You have used your strengths, skills, and knowledge from before the System Integration to your advantage. You will be rewarded for leaning on those strengths.]

[You have fought your first horde of enemies. You will be rewarded for your contributions.]

[You have leveled up to level 3.]

[You have leveled up to level 4.]

Judging from the order of kill notifications, Sylas had killed two level 1 zombies on the way to the medical building and then the pack of zombies had at least two level 2 zombies as well as the level 5 Baron Zombie. Noticing the baron was selectable, he honed in on the word which opened the Ranks tutorial.

[Ranks]

[Ranks are designators that signify the strength of a being under the System's purview. Ranks are based on the being's level and stats. Those of a higher rank will have higher stats than others at the same level. Ranks will be revealed to you as you either meet the requirements to be ranked yourself or as you meet others assigned to those ranks. Meeting a higher ranked being will allow you to know of the ranks between the highest you know and the being you have encountered. Most beings start and stay at Commoner.]

[Known Ranks: Commoner, Baron]

'Oh, so it's likely based on the older noble systems starting at Commoner and the highest would be a King or Queen. I wonder what exactly classifies you as having reached the rank and how do you get enough stats to not increase your level at the same rate as your stats. I can figure that out later when I have more information available. Time for loot!'

[Reward for Quest: Use your strengths]

[Bossy Words]

[Grade: Common]

[Passive: When telling others what to do during combat they will receive +1 buff to their two highest stats if they follow your directions.]

[Rewards for Quest: Outnumbered]

[Contribution Ranking: ]

[1. Swain Shieldgrove]

[2. Samantha Redstone]

[3. Sylas Redstone]

[You have received progress towards your level and a slight increase in a stat useful for a skill you hold]

[Skill selected: Bossy words]

[Stat increased: +1 Intelligence]

Sylas felt a little miffed at his reward for shotcalling being a skill called [Bossy Words], but maybe it was because he didn't have much of a plan, both him and Swain were knocked out of the fight, and a third party who wasn't included in the call outs had stepped in to finish the battle and save them. After quietly telling Sam about his rewards, Sylas noticed Swain had ended his tall tale of their journey so he asked him about the contribution rewards from the fight since he was the first ranked.

Sylas had to tell him where to look for notifications that were muted but after another 30 seconds a bright light started to shine in Swain's hands. After everyone was able to see again, they were stunned at the sight of a six foot pole with large quad axe heads at the end in Swain's hands. Swain started to giggle to himself as he felt the stat boosts flow through his body. Sylas attempted to use [Analyze] but all he received were question marks back so he asked Swain if he could see it. When Swain replied in the affirmative the question marks turned into words.

[Swinger's Axe]

[Grade: Uncommon]

[+3 Strength, +1 Vitality]

Sylas could see why Swain was giggling like a child. It was the first time he had seen the system say 'Increase' instead of 'Slightly Increase' so the boosts must feel better than what the boots provided him.

"You've always been loved by the loot God so I guess it isn't surprising you'd be the first to not only get a great weapon, but also the second piece of equipment." 

Swain broke into the same full bellied laugh he used every time Sylas complained about the difference in loot luck between them, ending his laugh with the very familiar phrase "The loot has to go to the most attractive person playing!"